First Date! The Princess and the guitarist (Shion)

The streets were beautiful this evening. That was what went through Melody's head, at least, as she walked beside her new girlfriend. Maybe it was the new girlfriend part that made the night seem so wonderful. Melody really wasn't sure she would have thought any differently if it was pouring down rain. They'd gone out for dinner, but first they'd decided to do some window shopping.

There were plenty of fun things to see on the street, and on any other day Melody would have probably been absolutely fascinated by all the neat things they had in Japan that were more rare or just novel in London. In her short time at the Academy, she'd rarely gotten out, and the last time she'd simply paid for someone's dinner in order to thank her for letting her borrow a recorder to help with lessons. Right now though... her mind and, when Shion wasn't looking, her eyes were both focused on the first and only girl she'd ever confessed having feelings for that hadn't thrown it back in her face.

People were looking at them as they walked down the streets. It might have been because they were holding hands, each blushing almost constantly. It might have been because Shion was dressed in a princess outfit. Melody, for once, didn't care much why. She was here to have fun on her first date ever! "This is great!" Melody found herself saying, almost without thought. "I've never been to this part of town before. So everything's kinda new." The grin on her face only got bigger as she spoke up. "Exploring new places like this is pretty romantic in itself, if you ask me."

Window shopping was not an uncommon activity for Shion, who did it with some regularity on those days were she had time off from classes. Walking the streets in character gave her a chance to perfect a part as well. How people interacted with her in any given persona would help inform how that persona then interacted with people around her and the world at large. She couldn't really afford most of the things she saw in the store windows but it was nice to imagine herself or a date wearing them for some event or other. Now that she was actually on a date with someone it was impossible to be any sort of character that she'd already established. Melody was so pretty that she felt overshadowed anyway. People were staring at them, which made the brunette blush and avert her eyes from the very storefronts she'd wanted to gaze upon. Why the attention? Was it holding hands with Melody? Nope. That didn't matter because she liked Melody a lot and no matter what people thought she was gonna go right on holding hands.

Most likely it was the outlandish princess dress she'd insisted on wearing. People weren't used to seeing such a lovely gown in public so it was likely a shock to behold it in their presence. Wait, what? It was something new in that line of thinking that made her look up again. Something proud but considerate. Someone proud but considerate! A princess character! Rather than be ashamed of the attention she smiled at the onlookers instead before returning full attention to Melody. Her girlfriend was more important than those people anyway! Shion squeezed the blonde's hand to let her know she was okay, then smiled at what the girl said to her.

"Actually I'm pretty new to this part of town myself, but it's fun having an adventure to see what's around for us to try out. It's better because you're here with me," Shion responded to her girlfriend, "If you see any stores you'd like to check out, let's go in. I'll even model stuff for you if you like."

"Modeling? For me?" Melody giggled and blushed a little at the thought. Just a few hours ago that would have been too embarrassing for either of them, or at least that was what Melody thought at the moment. Well, Melody had thought about the fact that she was sort of Modeling for Shion, but that had been more of a joke than anything. Now she could actually act on how attractive she found Shion. It was appropriate for girlfriends to do, right? It certainly made her happy to think about being that way for Shion.

"That sounds like fun~" she changed in a singsong voice, squeezing Shion's hand back after a moment. "You are pretty cute to look at." Melody blushed, "But it wouldn't be fair to just make you do all the modeling, you know," she stated That part as if it were fact. "Let's go in that store. I'll go first just because you're so cute in the princess dress." Once they were inside, Melody started poking around at the clothing. There was a pretty wide variety here, from old to new (or somewhat new), from revealing to modest. "Okay, pick anything and I'll try it on."

Melody needed to go to this store more in the future. There was more than clothes here, and certainly something she could use to make Shion's day better at some point would be easy to find as well. It wasn't like either of them had displayed any especially picky tendencies over the short time they'd known each other. In fact, she was downright amazing to live with, which helped with their whole dating thing, she was sure.

Melody was more than just pretty, she was positively radiant when she was happy. Her smile could light up a room and that made Shion feel incredibly fortunate that they'd confessed when they had. Who knew what other girl might have been able to snatch up the blonde instead had they not! Shion was thrilled that they'd be sharing a living space together so that she'd see her girlfriend every day. Being separated from the person she cared so much about would be nerve wracking to the point that only a character like Sting could keep her emotions from being on display. Sting wasn't about to get Melody in a good mood either. Being offered Melody modeling first instead, Shion giggled at the notion their first day together was about dress up games. It was far more adorable than anything she possibly could have imagined!

"Very well, I'll endeavor to get you something that will suit your beauty," Shion answered in a regal sounding tone. As she scanned the shop with her eyes she reverted to normal, "But it has to be cute too, because you're cuter than me and I need to show you that.."

Eventually, she picked out a red plaid skirt with a short sleeved white blouse and matching plaid bow that looked vaguely idol-ish. Holding it up she announced, "Here, try this! I want to see what you look like as a famous musician that every girl loves... well. er.. I think... anyway, try it on!"

Shion was obviously making a character out of the princess comment. Ah well, it was cute anyway. Besides it was Melody-inspired so in some strange way it was probably one of the more appropriate personas Shion could use - besides her own, of course. Besides, the character wasn't so complete that Melody couldn't see the Shion behind it, and that part was adorable. "See now you're just making it a challenge," Melody decided as she was handed the clothing.

"You're certainly more something than me. In a good way. I mean, you're taller like a model... Which is like me dating a model even without your character." Melody winked, giving her girlfriend a playful grin. She could say more, most likely, but for now she had clothes to try on. As she entered the changing room, Melody realized her heart was beating really hard, like she was more excited and nervous than she thought. Was she really playing dress-up on her first date? She wondered if Shion had been tempted to get her something else for a moment, before remembering that Shion was hardly that girl, Yuri. She'd probably gone straight to the first thing she'd thought about. It was cute.

After a moment, she re-emerged, ignoring everyone else to make a show of modeling for Shion. She wasn't actually a modeling expert, but she did know a few things she'd seen one modeling shows and stuff. "What do you think? Am I as cute as you think?" she asked, striking what she thought was probably a sexy yet cute pose. She was already eyeing what she might get for Shion to try on, but there was no sense in rushing it.

In response to Melody's comment on making it a challenge Shion playfully stuck her tongue out at the blonde. Of course it was a challenge! One that Melody would almost certainly overcome because of how amazing she was, no doubt. Shion blushed at seeing the wink more than the words of praise the blonde spoke of her. Though she wasn't convinced of her own merits that look made her heart beat harder almost at the same time Melody disappeared into the changing room. Shion wanted to squee right there, but managed to keep herself reserved since she was a princess and all that right now. Suddenly her mind created a mental image of Melody pulling her into the changing room, staring into her eyes and then kissing her. Right there! Needless to say there was a huge blush on her face as the blonde re-emerged wearing the idol-ish outfit.

It was even cuter than she'd expected! That pose wasn't totally model like but honestly she was so much more interesting than models anyway it didn't matter. Shion tried hard to remain demure and stately as her dress and character demanded. She lost the battle. Instead of simply applauding and complimenting her, Shion smiled brightly and circled around the girl. Then she spontaneously hugged her from behind and giggled in joy. However ridiculous she might seem at the moment she didn't care at all. Melody was so cute it was all that mattered! The brunette leaned down and rested her head on Melody's shoulder as she started wondering what the girl might pick out for her to try.

"Absolutely not," she answered the question before giggling again, "You're a lot cuter. It really suits you, even though it doesn't really say 'metal' to me.. but you make anything work because you're amazing."

Melody couldn't help but roll her eyes at Shion's insistence that she was cuter. That didn't stop the grin from forming though; not that she'd stopped grinning for more than about a second around Shion today. She looked at the clothes without moving too far away from Shion until she found what she wanted. "Ahah. Perfect for a casual princess," she spoke aloud as she moved and found a white button-up blouse and pink skirt. Melody had been wearing a headband with her dress to keep her hair as in-place as possible, and she placed that with the clothes as well. "Tiara substitute," she giggled as she handed off the clothes.

"See, the way I see it, a princess who wants to move around commoners needs something cute yet functional. Nice yet appropriate." Melody placed her hands on her hips as she explained her logic. "And since no princess can go without the cutest things, she gets to comandeer her girlfriend's headband for the night. You know, since I'm supposedly the cutest and all."

People might have looked their way when Melody said something about 'girlfriend' but Melody didn't even notice for once. She was on a dating high that wasn't going to be pulled down unless Shion did it herself. "Alright! Let's go see how you'll look." Melody kind of wanted to join her, but that would sort of take mystery part of dress up games away. It wasn't fair to see how they looked before they were done, right?

Getting clothes that were picked out by her girlfriend was exciting enough for the would-be princess. Sharing clothes had been thrilling, even if her own clothes were a little big for Melody. Trying to guess what the girl would select for her out of all the potential looks in the store drove her a bit mad. She hoped it would be something cute, knowing deep in her heart this would be so since Melody was the one picking out the clothes. It was hard for her to imagine someone as tall as herself being cute, but if there was a sliver of hope it rested with Melody's belief in her. When the blonde offered her headband in addition to the blouse and skirt, Shion blushed a shade which complimented the skirt nicely.

"But... but that's your hedband, Melody! I can't just wear it with impunity..." she began remarking, then giggled, "I guess if some of your cuteness rubs off on me, that's okay. Your gesture is duly noted and appreciated, oh loyal retainer. Now if you will be so kind as to be a lady in waiting, I will go change."

Laughing at her own little joke she took the clothes into the dressing room and closed herself in. Getting out of her dress wasn't hard at all, since she changed outfits all the time at school as part of keeping herself safe from others' judgment. Her hopes had been made reality with the new outfit as well. That blouse and skirt were actually really adorable, though she wasn't totally sure they'd suit her height and looks. All the same she donned it as expertly as she'd put on her dress back at the dorms. Only when she got to the headband did she hesitate. This was Melody's headband.. she held it up and could kind of smell whatever shampoo or products the blonde used in her own hair. It was like Melody was right in the dressing room with her. Close and personal. Leaning up in defiance of anyone who might be watching.. lips getting closer... touching. Shion blushed like crazy as she slowly put the headband on, holding her long brunette locks back similar to Melody's hairstyle. With that blush still present she stepped out of the dressing room and did a little twirl for her girlfriend.

"So does it suit me? I'm not sure.. this is the newest clothing I've ever worn..." she made an excuse, fidgeting a bit, "Thanks for the headband, though.. it's really cute.."

Melody waited impatiently outside while Shion went to go change. She'd only giggled and assured Shion that she was a princess, therefor she could wear anything she wanted. It was apparently all it had taken... if she'd even been listening (Melody couldn't tell at that point). She'd hopped into the dressing room as much more of a royal princess than she had seemed to be before.

'So this is what it felt like waiting for me. Probably...' Melody thought to herself, still blushing as she waited for about three eternities for Shion to finally emerge. Once she finally did, the blond's eyes opened wide as her own face decided it needed to match the skirt as well. Regardless of what Shion thought, she was totally cute in the more modern clothes... though admittedly the older things suited her personality.

"Of course," she insisted truthfully. "It's not normal but that just makes it... pop more," she told the girl as her eyes scanned her girlfriend and how she looked in the clothes. "I mean, you're adorable in your older clothes, but you'd work just as well in normal stuff... I think... you might actually be model worthy..." she admitted, blushing. "Really though, you can wear my stuff like, anytime. At least what fits."

It occurred to Melody that the pair should probably get out of the clothes before the people at the shop decided they were up to no good. "Okay, we should give the clothes back," she decided, grabbing Shion's hand and pulling her closer to the dressing room stall. "I'll go first I guess."

Melody walked into the dressing room and closed the door. Just as she did, she had the most random and impulsive idea she'd had in awhile. The dressing room was so private! Quickly, the door reopened and Melody grabbed Shion's arm, pulling her in as the door shut once more behind her. A cheesy line even entered her brain for the occasion. "And now to transform you back into a princess~" she chuckled before pulling her close and giving her girlfriend an impulsive kiss.

Having Melody's eyes drifting over her form made the brunette blush even more if that were even possible. Her girlfriend thought she was good looking in modern clothes no less! Truth be told she'd never gone shopping for anything new other than school uniforms once she hit middle school. To be told that she could look acceptable in clothes her family hadn't handed down to her made Shion kind of proud but also awkward. Now that Melody had commented that she liked that look, Shion really kind of wanted to buy the clothes. She had some money but not a large sum on hand from the monthly stipend her parents managed to send her. Was this enough of an emergency to justify spending it? It very well might be.

"Wait.. wear your stuff?! But.. but... it's.. isn't that.." was the brunette's reaction to the offer from her girlfriend. Putting on that headband had taken quite a bit of willpower, what would dressing in Melody's clothes take? Her mind sputtered as she contemplated just what Melody's wardrobe entailed, including what was underneath the outerwear. Shion's brain broke as she looked as though she might start steaming like a kettle left on the burner too long. Then she was yanked out of the reverie quite literally by some unseen force.

Then she was inside the changing room. How'd she get in there? Shion looked around in confusion for a few moments before realizing that the person who'd pulled her in was standing right beside her. She was blonde and dressed in an idol-ish looking outfit if there ever were one. Wait.. Melody! So Melody had pulled her inside the changing room.... why? Her answer came in the form most unexpected of any potential outcome. Melody leaned up, their lips drew closer, closer and then touched. A kiss! The brunette was frozen as she was kissed for the first time, by a girl she had started dating no less. Slowly her mind came back to its senses and she put her arms around Melody's waist, then leaned into the kiss. If it was happening it was best to make it happen the best way possible. Returning the kiss, she just let the whole world melt away as she decided also that her bank account would be a little lighter for the next couple weeks.

The kiss might have lasted a few seconds. It might have lasted a few hours. Really, all sense of time had melted when Shion had leaned into the kiss and made it an all-around pleasant experience. There was a part of Melody that wanted to know what she was thinking - it was so improper to kiss on the first date! But then, she'd been told her whole life it was wrong to date a girl. She only really knew one thing at that moment though; this was without a doubt the best moment in her life.

She hadn't been doing much in the way of physical activity, but Melody found that she was out of breath when the kiss was finally over. Her cheeks were flush crimson, her eyes locked on Shion's as she tried to wrap her head around what she'd just done. It had been her idea, but it had been almost as surprising to her as it had surely been to Shion. "I uh, hope that was okay," she managed after a moment. Shion had leaned into it, but that didn't necessarily mean she wouldn't be mad after. She really hoped she wouldn't be! It had been so romantic and... fun. She wanted to do it again, truth be told, but she was already pressing her luck just about to the max. "You were just so cute and stuff... and then I wanted to know what a first kiss would be like and..."

It took until that point for Melody to finally remember where she was and what she was supposed to be doing. "Right, so um, I suppose we should get changed. You can ah, stay or go I guess. Since the dress up surprise is over." She'd changed in front of Shion for the last while now, so it wasn't like it was new. They'd never been dating though, and they'd both respectfully tried not to pay too much attention. Her kiss-addled brain honestly hoped she would stay.

Shion wasn't totally sure that what she'd done was acceptable, but it wasn't like she really cared at that point. This was everything her daydreams had ever been about! Herself as a princess who'd been saved from being weird and hidden behind characters by a pretty lady with a guitar. Well maybe that wasn't exactly what she'd daydreamed about but this was close enough that she wasn't complaining. Even after Melody pulled out of the kiss Shion didn't want to let the blonde go. Her girlfriend was the most important person in the world, so she didn't dare lose her even for a few seconds. They'd changed in front of each other plenty of times anyway so it wouldn't be that strange to do it together. Besides she'd then get to see what sort of things Melody was wearing under those... an instant blush fell over her face as she had the thought.

"That was.. um... more than okay. It was my first kiss too and I'm really happy that you're the one I had it with," she managed to respond, then giggled, "No it's okay, you should stay here with me and change. We're both girls aren't we? It'll be fine. It's not like I'm going to just stand here watching.. admiring your beauty and being amazed you chose... me..."

With that she gave into her own temptation and leaned down to kiss Melody again. Her arms pulled her girlfriend closer as their lips met, one hand stroking the blonde's hair gently. Her girlfriend! Such an amazing idea but it had come to fruition somehow in this new school year. It didn't matter that they weren't the same year, this was someone she really liked and wasn't going to let go. Someone who made her feel special despite her own misgivings about how she looked. After what might've been several moments or minutes she pulled back just enough to look Melody in the eyes. Shion's smile was genuine and kind as she continued stroking the blonde hair, feeling almost like this was an extension of the daydream.

"I'm just afraid that this is a dream.. and if I let go you'll be gone," she admitted, blushing, "Sorry that was so sudden... I.. um.. I want to buy this outfit... so maybe I can just wear it out?"

Shion was more than okay with the kiss. More than okay? So that could become a thing then. Like... it might be inappropriate by most standards but... who were these other people to tell her how to have her own relationship anyway?! No, she was okay with it, and that meant she got to keep those butterflies floating around in her stomach. Shion kept talking as the thoughts went on. She paused at the most flirty and obvious places, talking about how she certainly admiring Melody's beauty while she got undressed and how she wasn't going to be sitting there amazed that Melody had asked her out.

It was adorable, but Melody didn't have much time to think of the adorable part. Shion pulled her into the kiss this time, and Melody just melted. The feeling of the girl's soft lips on hers made her heart race as she drew herself as close as she could to Shion during the kiss. It ended when Shion pulled back, but she only pulled back enough to really see Shions eyes. She could still feel her breath on her cheek. Somewhere in Melody's brain she was afraid she'd never be able to stop this whole kissing thing she'd started and they'd be in the dressing room forever.

The first words out of Shion's mouth were like out of a daydream. She said exactly what Melody felt. It had to be some sort of dream. Up until the point where their dress up game had become super romantic it had seemed... maybe half real. Now... it was all a dream. A dream that felt real. And yet... Melody gave a much shorter kiss to Shion this time. "Just in case," she stated, partially as a joke. "Hopefully we're having the same dream then." Shion hadn't let go of Melody, and she wasn't complaining. "Er, ah, yeah... you can wear it out. I still need to get changed though. I've never... er... changed in front of someone I kissed before..." she stated, both trying to flirt and lighten the mood as she pulled off the top she'd been trying on.

To think, Shion had only a few weeks before spent her time daydreaming about romantic courtship with some girl who was either a princess or treated the brunette as one. Now she was in the dressing room of a clothing store making out with her girlfriend. The comparison wasn't terribly apt, she was realizing, because Melody was so far beyond any girls in daydreams it wasn't even funny. Even though she knew that the blonde would need to change back into her own clothes Shion was hesitant to leave the dressing room. Small as it was it provided a rather intimate place wherein she was at peace with the world. Outside she might be awkward but here was something tangible, real and reaffirming. She didn't want to leave because the dream might end and it would turn out she'd never been confessed to. But she had to trust Melody was real and not a figment of her imagination.

"I don't think it's a dream.. because if this is, then this is both the best and most realistic dream I've ever had," Shion responded with a smile, then blushed, "Um... um... I'll go pay for this.. and then wait for you to emerge, Melody.."

She gave one last peck on the cheek before hurriedly exiting the dressing room so that her girlfriend could change. It was kind of different when you were dating the girl who was changing in front of you. Though she had been wondering what Melody's undergarments might look like.. no! Shion told herself to stop before she got too far down that dark, dirty road. Instead she headed for the counter, shyly pulled one of the few bills she had on her out of her bra and placed it on the counter. With only a brief exchange she paid for her new outfit, lamenting the tightness her budget would see until her next allowance payment. Then she sighed, hid away her change minus the coins and went back to wait for Melody by the dressing room.

Part of Melody was disappointed that her girlfriend had decided to go pay for things while she was stuck inside getting changed. She was probably just still on her kiss high or something, but she wanted to stick close to Shion right now, even if that meant the possibility of showing off her undergarments. Ah well. She grinned goofily despite her thoughts when the peck on the cheek came and Shion left, shaking her head in a mix of amusement and confusion from not really understanding why she'd gone and kissed her so quickly.

For a moment as she got dressed again, Melody wondered what else the pair could and would get into together as a couple. She even let her mind wander into a few less than wholesome thoughts about that night after their dinner before she shook her head again to clear her thoughts. "Nope. Can't go thinking like that, Melody. Even if she is attractive and great to kiss."

Melody exited a moment after Shion had stopped to wait for her, her goofy grin now reduced to a cute, pleasant one. She reached over and grabbed the bag that contained Shion's princess dress. "A princess doesn't need to carry her own things on her first date," she told her in a mock-scolding tone. She hooked her fingers in Shion's once she had the bag. "Well, now that we've bought stuff, are you ready for dinner?" If she'd known about how tight Shion's budget was going to be, she'd have certainly promised to help her girlfriend out. She hadn't really mentioned it though, so she was doing what she could to improve Shion's experience. Improving Shion's date seemed to improve her own experience as well, which just made it more fun.

Maybe the only thing keeping Shion from squeeing herself was the fact that a princess wouldn't allow herself to embrace such behavior. She could become swept up in the undertaking of course but showing such unrestrained girlish excitement was a little too much. A princess had to be reserved and graceful after all. That didn't mean she wasn't terribly excited about the date as it had turned out so far. Her first kiss! And then another one! Shion felt closer to Melody than she had at the beginning of the date even though the really hadn't talked about personal stuff quite as much as the brunette had intended. This whole stop hadn't been intended though so it wasn't part of the plan but still had been enjoyable. Immensely so! For the first time she felt like kind of a normal girl, wearing trendy clothes out on a date with her girlfriend!

"Your princess thanks you, oh Lady Melody. Dedicated service to one's liege is repaid in favors later," Shion responded to Melody, then stepped over to her; an excited grin was threatening to break through the calm smile as she approached, "Your taste in fashion is as impeccable as your looks, manners and personality. It would be an honor for me to accompany you to dinner... um.. I mean.. it would be an honor to accompany you for dinner... to dinner.."

She blushed before offering her hand, "I think we should hold hands, it seems more romantic.. and.. um.. I think somewhere cheap is okay to eat.. we're both students and all.."

Sure, the stop had been unexpected, the new clothes mid-date had been unexpected, and most of all - the pair of kisses they'd shared had been unexpected. But then, just a few hours ago Melody hadn't expected she would have a girlfriend, or that she would be dating her roommate. Though, honestly, she would have probably wanted to ask her out even more if not for the roommate thing. Up until the point where she'd blurted things out she'd been conflicted on whether roommates should date, but now she didn't even spare a thought to whether it was the right choice. Her first kiss! And her second one! Ohhhh she wanted to kiss again. Maybe cuddle. She was probably being too forward and stuff with a first date, but then... Shion also didn't seem to mind, so did the normal rules really matter? Weren't relationships built around what each other liked and wanted and not what other people wanted them to do?

Melody returned to a deeper shade of pink than her current standard when she was complimented again. Even if it was in-character, she was pretty sure Shion thought the same things, even if it was in different wording. "Er, I don't know many places, but I know a place that's not super fancy with really good food that's cheap!" Melody told her girlfriend excitedly. "I'll take you there."

She took Shion's hand, having already been planning to do so. After their kiss, she even attempted to make their fingers interlock properly in that way that mostly couples seemed to do in her experience. "This whole evening is really romantic..." Melody echoed to Shion. Shion was so pretty, even without the trendy clothes Melody had picked out. She gave a quick, blush inducing glance up and down Shion, appraising her, and Melody practically wanted to squee with delight. She had... the hottest girlfriend. She was built like a model too! And ohhh those lips were fun to kiss. She definitely wanted more of that. She looked forward again, making a small coughing noise as she tried to not look like she'd just done that. "So um, what kind of favors, milady?"